Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-06-01


aNo, UNCLE" she said, "neither John nor
anybody nor anything in the world can do
that" and it was evident from her manner
that she meant what she said. Bessie had
large heart, and was not at all the person to
let her lover drive her uncle and benefactor
out Of his share Of it.
CHAPTER XIV.
JOHN TO THE RESCUE.
The important domestic events described
in the last chapter took place on Dec. z, 1880,
and for the next twelve days or SO every
thing went as happily at Mooifontein as
things should go under the circumstances
Every day Silas Croft beamed with moro
enlarged geniality in his satisfaction at the
turn things had taken, and every day John
found cause to congratulate himself moro
and more on the issue Of his bold venture to-
ward matrimony. Now that he came to be
on such intimate terms with his betrothed, he
perceived hundred charms and graces in
her character which he had never suspected
before. Bessie was like flower: the more
she basked in the light and warmth Of her
love the more her character opened and un-
6us
her and revealing unguessed charms. 1t is so
with all women, and more especially with a
woman of her stamp, whom nature has
made to love and be loved as maid
and wife and mother. Her undoubted
personal beauty also shared in this
development, her fair face taking a richer
hue and her eyes an added depth and mean-
ing. She was in every respect, save one, all
that man could desire in his wife, and even
the exception was one that would have stood
to her credit with most NEIL. 1t was this:
she was not an intellectual woman although
she certainly possessed more than the ordi-
nary share Of intelligence and work day
common sense. Now John was q decidedly
intellectual man, and, what is more, he highly
appreciated that rare quality in the other
sex. But, after all, when one is just engaged
to sweet and lovely woman, one does not
think much about her intellect. Those sort
of reflections come afterward.
And so they sauntered hand in hand
through the sunny days and were exceedingly
happy. Least OF all did they allow the ru-
mors which occasionally reached them from
the great Boer gathering at Paarde Kraal TO
disturb their serenity. There had been so
many of these rumors Of rebellion that folk
were getting to regard them as q chronic
state of affairs.
aOh, the Boers!" said Bessie, with a pretty
toss of her golden head, as they were sitting
one morning on the veranda- "I'm sick to
death of hearing about the Beers and all their
got up talk. know what it is; it is just an
excuse for them to 60 away from their farms
and wives and children and idle about at
these great meetings, and drink square face
with their mouths full of big words You
see what Jess says in her last letter. People
in Pretoria believe that it is all nonsense from
beginning to end, and think they are per-.
fectly right"
"By tho way, Bessie" asked John, "have
you written to jess telling her of our engage
mentm
"Oh, yes I wrote some days ugo, but the
letter only went yesterday. She will be
pleased to hear about it. Dear old jess, !
wonder when she means to come home again.
She has been away long enough"
John made no answer, but went on smoking
his pipe in silence. wondering If Jess would
be pleased. He did not understand her yet.
She had gone away just as he was beginning
TO understand her.
Presently he observed Jantje sneaking
about between the orange trees as though he
wished to call attention to himself. Had he
not wanted TO do so he would have moved
from one to tho other in such q way that
nobody could have seen him. His partial and
desultory appearances indicated that he was
OH view.
Come out of those trees, you little rascal,
and stop slipping about like snake III q stone
wall !" shouted John. "what is it you want
wages {"
Thus adjured, Jantje advanced and sat
down on the path as usual, in the full glare OF
the sun.
@No, baas," he said," it is not wages. They
arc not due yet"
"What is it then!"
"No, baas, it is this The Beers have
declared war OH the English government, and
they have eaten up the rooibaatjes at Bron-
kers Spruit, near Middelburg. 'Joubert shot
them all there the day before yesterday"
"What!" shouted John, letting his pipe fall
in his astonishment. "Stop, though, that
must be lie You say near Middelburg, the
day before yesterday; that would be Dec 70
When did you hear this!"
"At daybreal, baas. A Basutu told me-"
"Then there is all end Of it. The news
could not have got here in thirty eight hours.
What do you mean by coming to me with
such tale7"
The Hottentot smiled at is quite true,
baas. Bad news flies like Bird" and he
picked himself up and slipped off to his
work.
Notwithstanding the apparent impossibility
Of the thing, John was considerably dis
turbed, knowing the extraordinary speed
with which news docs travel among kaffirs;
more swiftly, indeed, than the swiftest
mounted messenger can bear it. leaving
Bessie, who was also somewhat alarmed, he
went in search of Silns Croft, and, finding
him in the garden, told him what Jantje had
said. The old man did not know what to
make Of the tale, but, remembering Frank
Mullers threats, lie shook his head.
"lf there is any truth in it that villain Null
ler has hand in it" he said. "I'll go to the
house and see Jantje. Give mc your arm,
John"
He obeyed, and, OH getting to the top Of
the steep path, perceived the stout figure OF
old Hans Coetzee who had been lis host ut
tho shooting party, ambling along OIL his fat
little pony.
"Ah," said old Silas, "here is the man who
will tell us if there is anything i'll it ALL"
"Good day, ON Coetzee, good day!" be
shouted out in his stentorian tone "What
news do you bring with yous
The jolly looking Boer rolled awkwardly
off his pony before answering, and, throwing
the reins over its head, came to meet them.
"Allemachter, Om Silas, it is bad news.
You have heard Of the bymakaar (meeting)
at Paarde Kraal. Frank Muller wanted me
to 20, but would not, and now they have
declared war on the British government, and
sent proclamation to Lanyon. There will
be fighting, ON Silas; the land will run with
blood, and the poor rooibaatjes will be shot
down like buck"
"The poor Beers, you mean," growled
John, who did not like to hear her majesty's
army talked of in terms of regretful pity.
ON Coetzee shook his head with the air Of
one who knew all about it, and then turned
an attentive ear to Sias Croft's version Of
Jantje's story.
"Allemachter" groaned Coetzee, "what did
tell you! The poor rooibaatjes shot down
like buck, and the land running with blood.
And now that Frank Muller will draw me
into it, and shall have to 60 and shoot the
poor rooibaatjes, and I can't miss; try as
hard as will, can't mss. And when we
have shot them all suppose Burgers will
come back, and he is krankish (mad). Yes,